A Southern California man pleaded guilty to murdering his ex-wife and abandoning the sudden levee.
Josephino Caetano Mardonado, 45, of Salinas, murdered his ex-wife, Eudelia Gonzalez in July 2021, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
On the night of July 10th, 2021, Gonzalez left the party and met up with Maldonado. They were separated for eight years at the time. They traveled on the Potrero Road near Newbury Park and stopped at the park before heading to Oxnard.
During the drive, Maldonado asked if they could reconcile their relationship, but Gonzalez refused.
Later that night, around 12:30am, Maldonado crossed the nearby East Fu Emmeme Road. After they both got out of the car, he hit Gonzalez multiple times in his head with the rocks.
He then placed Gonzalez in his car and drove north of Santa Barbara near Gabiota. He placed a plastic bag over her head, then wrapped her head in a sweatshirt before dumping the steep levee along the 101 highway, court documents said.
Josefino Caetano Maldonado, 45, of Salinas, can be seen in booking photos provided by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
After Gonzalez didn’t return home, her 17-year-old daughter reported that she was missing. When Oxnard police questioned Maldonado, he allegedly denied seeing Gonzalez and claimed he was not in Ventura County.
Detectives later found a phone record that revealed that Maldonado was in the area at the time of the crime.
“Faced with this evidence, Maldonado ultimately admitted to the murder and later led the detective to the location of the body in Santa Barbara County,” the prosecutor said.
On March 25th, Maldonado pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, along with a special allegation of using a deadly weapon (lock).
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“The plea and the ultimate sentence is to help victims’ families find the much-anticipated closure they’ve been patiently waiting for,” said Tom Steele, senior assistant district attorney who indicted the case.
Maldonado is scheduled to be sentenced April 22 in Ventura County Superior Court, where he is expected to face life in 16 years of prison. He remains in custody without bail.
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